Around the districts: Annacurra, Aughrim, Castletown, Coolgreany-Johnstown

The annual Christmas raffle prize winners were first Noel Shannon, second Tom Byrne, third Mary Stapleton, fourth John Byrne, fifth Liam Lyons, sixth Ann Lynch, seventh Nancy Linehan, eighth Borris Ivanoff, and ninth Kathleen McAllister.

The chairman Jack Lynch thanked everyone for their dedication and help during the year. he wished everyone a happy Christmas and good health for 2019. Bowls will resume for the new year on Sunday, January 6, 2019. We still have some vacancies for membership, if anyone is interested call to Annacurra Community Hall any Sunday or Thursday night during bowling season at 7 p.m.

GAA club news

Thanks to everyone who supported the end of year celebrations last Saturday night in the Saltee and congratulations to all the winners in the draw. We want to wish everyone a very happy and safe Christmas.

Lotto results for December 10: numbers drawn were 8, 13, 14 and 21. No jackpot Winner. One match-three winner (€100): Ger Murphy c/o Ann Byrne. Next week's jackpot, €3,900.

Table quiz

Tired of the telly by Stephen's Day? Come along to the table quiz in the Saltee on the night of December 27.

Mass Cards

Mass cards for the deceased and for special intentions (Mass bouquets) are available in the sacristy, along with Christmas and Get Well Mass Bouquets.

45 Card Game

45 Card game on December 21 and December 28 starting at 9 p.m. in the Saltee. Happy Christmas to all our cards players.

Whist

There will be a whist drive in Annacurra Community hall on Saturday night, December 29, starting at 9 p.m. The committee would like to thank and wish a happy Christmas to the people who help out at the whist drives and everyone who supports the whist in any way. Happy Christmas.

Notes

Items for Annacurra notes can be emailed to annacurra@gmail.com or phoned to 083 3136925 by 8 p.m. on Sunday evening.

Aughrim

Town and Country Market

Season's greetings to all our customers and friends and many thanks for your continued support throughout the year. The Aughrim Town and Country takes place on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and all are welcome.

Our last Christmas market takes place on Saturday, December 22, and turkey and ham orders can be collected between 10 a.m. to midday. We look forward to seeing you all when we return in the New Year on Saturday, January 12, Please contact Caroline at 086 0865838 should you have any queries.

GAA News

Our final club get together for this year takes place next Saturday night, December 22, in conjunction with the our Juvenile Draw in O'Toole's. Tickets for the Juvenile draw are still available from any club member. Please come along and support this event. We would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone associated with the club and all our supporters and sponsors a very happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

Physical Therapist Clinic

John Murphy MIAPT Physical Therapist clinic is in Aughrim Community Complex on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. For appointments phone 0404 66168/086 8545157/085 1620301.

Active Retirement

Our January meeting will be on January 8 when nomination papers will be distributed for the AGM which will take place in February. Our speaker in January will be Conor, the Librarian in Aughrim Library.

On behalf of the committee I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our members a very happy Christmas and every good wish for 2019.

Christmas Mass times

The follwing are the Christmas Mass times for church of the Sacred Heart, Aughrim.

Saturday, December 22: Confessions 7.15.pm. to 8.00.pm. Vigil Mass at 8.00.pm.

Sunday, December 23: Mass at 10.30.am.

Monday, December 24 (Christmas Eve): Mass at 6.00.pm. Vigil Mass at 8.00.pm.

Tuesday, December 25 (Christmas Day): Mass at 10.30.am.

Lotto

The numbers 16, 18, 22 and 25 were drawn in the sports club lotto on Monday last, December 10. The jackpot was not won. There were no match winners. The jackpot is €4,500.

Notes deadline

Items to be included in the Aughrim notes should be emailed to aughrimnotes@eircom.net before 8 p.m. on Sundays. Do not send attachments.

Castletown

Mass Times

Monday, December 24 - Christmas Eve. Carol Service 8.30 p.m. followed by Mass at 9 p.m. Tuesday, December 25 - Christmas Day. Mass at 10.30 a.m. (please note earlier time)

Individual confessions in Castletown after 8 p.m. Mass on Saturday, December 22. There will a penance service in Arklow Parish Church on Wednesday, December 19, at 8 p.m. Confessions in Arklow on Christmas Eve from 10.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Confessions every Saturday in Arklow after 10 a.m. Mass.

This is a good time of the year to say a huge Thank You to our Parish Team, who help behind the scenes all year. Thank you to our priests, sacristans, teachers, special ministers, readers, collectors, cleaners, choir, pastoral council, finance committee, ground workers and all our volunteers, who help when called upon to lend a hand. We wish you and your families a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

Finally, I would like to that you both for your help through the year with printing notes for me when possible. I wish you and you families a lovely peaceful and joyful time in the coming days.

Coolgreany-Johnstown

Local Notes

To all readers of local notes, please be aware all notes must be with me by midday on Wednesday the 19th, and again by midday on Thursday the 27th for inclusion in Coolgreany Notes.

Vintage Club

The AGM of Coolgreany Vintage Club took place in the Coolgreany Inn on last Wednesday night where a large crowd attended.

The chairman welcomed everyone, and then it was down to business with a very good report from secretary Geraldine O'Rafferty, followed by a very elaborate treasurers report from Alan Flood, which outlined the payments of €4,000 to North Wexford Hospice and also €2,000 to Coolgreany Tidy Towns. The chairman then reported on the start up of the Vintage Club and the successful Vintage Day and also the Car Run.

The following officers were the elected for the coming year 2019: chairman Dan Kennedy, Vice-chairman Seán Kealy, secretary Geraldine O'Rafferty, Assist secretary Sharon Flood, treasurer Alan Flood.at this stage the chairman closed the meeting by thanking all their sponsors in the past year, and everyone who help out in any way.

45 Card Drive

A very successful 45 Card Drive is ongoing in the Coolgreany Inn on each Friday night at 8.30 p.m., everyone is very welcome to come along for a good night of craic at the cards, and some lovely finger food thrown in for good measure.

Community Alert

The local Community Group are reminding all members of our community to look out for all members of our community who may be living alone and might need someone to help with getting their everyday needs, or a small bit of company for a while during the day. A small little bit of concern for others goes a long way to help take away the stress and worries of many people who feel they are left alone in life. Please keep a lookout for others and be vigilant at all times.

Tidy Towns

The Tidy Towns Committee would like to thank Coolgreany Vintage Club for their very generous donation of €2,000 to their committee, which no doubt will be well spent for the village. A big thanks also to the 'Wind Farm' for their help in supporting the erection of a notice board in the picnic area for all to view and read the notes and it is also wheelchair accessible, and a history of the village on one side. The committee also had success at the keep Wexford Beautiful, with two highly commended awards and also an award for the New Walking Trail in Gurteen/Ballyfad Wood. A big thanks to C K Signs and staff for looking after us so well.

Fás Worker - There is also a vacancy for a Fás worker on the Coolgreany Scheme at present, Phone 087 2819882.

Historical Society

A plea for photographs. Old Kilnenor Historical Society is pleased to announce the publishing of a book titled 'NOTICE TO QUIT,' an in-depth study of the Plan of Campaign evictions on the Coolgreany Estate. Attention is now focusing on the hunt for photographs of the evicted families, homesteads, Brooke estate rent receipts, 'Notice to Quit' notices to tenants., livestock distrain permits, summons to court appearances, jail term details, photos of medals of bravery - in fact anything that may add a small piece towards the jigsaw of the Coolgreany evictions.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE? A 'Drop-in and Scan workshop' will take place in the May Byrne Trust House, Coolgreany on Sunday, December 30, beginning at 2 p.m. and will continue to 4.30 p.m.

If you have any photographs/documents of interest, and would like to make available for inclusion in the book, then please drop for a chat. All photographs will be treated with respect and returned immediately after scanning. Alternatively, you may forward your photographs/documents directly via email to John Kavanagh on johngkavanagh@gmail.com.